Get Wisdom vs. God will destroy Wisdom

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Q. Is it a contradiction when God advocates that man should get wisdom and then says that he will destroy wisdom?

Here are the two verses cited as evidence for this alleged contradiction:

Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding. (Prov 4:7) For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. (1 Cor 1:19)

As with any word, the context must be examined to properly understand the meaning.  Wisdom is defined as "accumulated philosophic or scientific learning" (Merriam-Webster Dictionary). The Bible often uses wisdom in two different contexts: (1) the wisdom which comes from following God, and (2) the wisdom of the world which does not recognize God.  Each can be properly called "wisdom".  In a similar manner the "wisdom of darwinism" can be contrasted with the "wisdom of Christianity".  Wisdom is not an absolute quality, but accumulated learning or knowledge which must have a context in order to be understood.

The Wisdom of God

The knowledge or understanding of God is always described as vastly superior to that of man.  As the creator, he is knowledgeable of things far beyond the limited knowledge of man.  Man is constantly seeking to understand the universe and how it works, but God has known it from the beginning for he created it.

 (Rom 11:33 NKJV) Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out!

The Wisdom of Man

The context of the cited passage from Corinthians (1 Cor. 1:19) is speaking of the wisdom of the world which sets itself in opposition to God.

(1 Cor 1:20-21 NKJV) Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? {21} For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe.

The explanation is that since the world in its accepted knowledge failed to acknowledge God, its "wisdom" was demonstrated to be "foolish" since it denied the truth about God.  Because of this failure of man, the judgment of God demonstrated to all that the "wisdom" of man (which denied God) was "foolishness".

Later, in the same book, Paul states that the "wisdom" of man is inferior to the "wisdom" of God, and is thus described as "foolishness" before God:

(1 Cor 3:19-21 NKJV) For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, "He catches the wise in their own craftiness"; {20} and again, "The LORD knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile." {21} Therefore let no one boast in men. For all things are yours:

When God "catches the wise", he is plainly speaking of the "wisdom of this world", and in the context, this is the wisdom of man which fails to acknowledge God.

This wisdom of man is also called "fleshly wisdom" in 2 Cor. 1:12, and is in contrast with the conduct of one who is led by the spirit of God.

Conclusion

This alleged contradiction is not a contradiction at all, but simply a misunderstanding caused by failing to understand the meaning of the word "wisdom" in the context in which it is used.

-- David A. Duncan